Liquid-dispensing device



May 7, 1929. L. A. PRAY I LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16,1927

f I I I I WI TNESSES- l mented May 7, 1929 UNITED STATES LUCIAN A. PRAY, OF RAGINE, WISCONSIN.

LIQUID-DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed November 16, 1927. Serial 110.233533.

The invention relates to liquid dispensing devices, and more particularly to filling devices for replenishing the water in storage batteries in order to restore the proper level of the electrolyte.

An object of the invention is to provide a battery filling device including an elevated reservoir having connected thereto elongated flexible water and venting tubes both terminating at their lower ends in a combined nozzle member for introduction into successive cells and serving to automatically limit the quantity of water discharged into the cells.

Another object of the invention is to provide a battery filling device including liquid expelling means for the venting tube.

A further object is toprovide a battery filling device including a venting tube and valve means for directing the discharge of water from the tube.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a filling device embodying the invention and showing the application of the device to a battery cell, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section; y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the lower portion of the elevated water reservoir shown inFig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a nozzle member forming a part of the filling device.

In these drawings, the numeral 10 designates an elevated water reservoir which, in the present instance, is an inverted glass jar. The jar is clamped withina skeleton frame 11 of strap metal construction by means of which the jar can be stably rested in inverted position on a shelf or other support, and the frame is preferably provided with a bail handle 12 by means of which the jar may be carried about in inverted position.

The neck of the jar has threaded thereon a cover 13 ofsuitable material, such as hard rubber or molded composition, and. a gasket l l is interposed between the neck of the bottle and interior parts of the cover for sealing purposes. A cap 15 is threaded into the cover 13 against a sealing gasket 16 and is removableto permit ready filling of the jar in its upright position, so that the removal of the cover 13 for filling is rendered unnecessary.

The cover 13 has secured therein an upa right venting pipe 17, the open upper end of Which is disposed adjacent the end wall of the jar and the lower end of which is in communication with a chamber 18 formed in the jar cover. Two adjacent nipples 19 and. 20 are secured in the cover and project laterally therefrom, the nipple 19 being incomn'iunication with the interior of the lower end. of the jar, while the nipple 20 is in communication with the chamber 18 from which the venting pipe 17 extends upwardly.

A pair of flexible tubes 21 and 22, preferably several feet in length and conveniently formed of rubber tubing, havetheir adjacent ends secured to the nipples 19 and 20 respectively, the tube 21 forming a water conduit and the tube 22 forming a venting conduit. The tubes 21 and 22 are secured laterally together in any suitable manner and pass through a side opening 23 formed in the jar-supporting frame 11.

The lower ends of the tubes21 and 22 are secured on projecting tubular portions of a nozzle member 2a which comprises a pair of parallel adjacent nozzles 25 and 26 including said tubular portions and secured to an elongated transverse flange 27. The nozzle member is preferably formed of hard rubber molded in one piece, and the nozzle 25 is connected to the water tube 21 while the nozzle 26 is connected to the venting tube 22. If desired, the lower portions of the nozzles maybe combined into a single stem having formed therein the discharge and venting passages.

The nozzle member 24 is adapted for introduction into the filling opening 28 in the cover 29 ofa battery cell 30, and the flange 27 of the nozzle member is engageable with the upper surface of the cell cover to determine the depth to which the nozzles 25 and 26 will depend into the cell. The elongated shape of the flange 27 of the nozzle member provides open spaces along its sides for the passage of air through the filling opening 28 (hiring the filling operation.

The venting tube 22 has included therein a rubber bulb 31 having a normally open check valve 32 at its upper end, the purpose of the bulbbeing to expel water entering the venting tube during the filling operawhen the bulb is compressed.

lower end portion of the flexible water tube 21 may be'closed by a pinch cock 33, or the nozzle member 24 may be supported at a sufiicient elevation to prevent the flow of water through the tube.

To place the filling device in service, the frame 11 containing the inverted water jar 10 is placed on a suitable elevated support, such as a shelf 34. The nozzle member 24 is introduced into a battery cell requiring water, with the flange 27 of the nozzle member fitting resting against the cell cover, and during'this manipulation the water tube 21 is kept closed by compressing it. After opening the water tube, water immediately flows fromvthewater jar 10 through the water tube 21 and into the battery cell 30 by way of the nozzle 25, and simultaneously air fiows'upwardly through the nozzle 26, the flexibleiventing tube 22 and venting pipe 17 into the inner space above the water in the inverted water ar Water will thus continue to flow into the'jar until the rising water in the battery cell seals the end'of the venting nozzle 26, whereupon in accordance with a well known principle, the flow of water will cease shortlythereafter and the water level will reach its normal position in the cell.

fThe attendant, by' placing his fingers against the rubber bulb, can readily ascertain'fthe cessation of flow of water into the cell; The nozzle member 24, with its attached water and venting tubes, is then lifted from the filled cell and introduced into 'the next cell requiring water.

' It is found that, at the conclusion of a filling operation, a certainamount of water or weak electrolyte is drawn into the venting tube, sothat the flow of water will not be. re-established until'all or most of the water or electrolyte in the venting tube is discharged. This is accomplished by com pressing the rubber bulb 31, which expels theliquid in the lower portion of the venting tube, and the check valve 32 at the upper end of the/bulb confines the discharge to adownward direction. This clearing of the venting conduit then'starts the flow of water into the succeeding cell within which the 'nozzle member is placed before the rubber bulb 31 is compressed. The cessation of flow of the water through the water tube when the venting tube is sealed by water drawn therein, permits the nozzle member air passing upwardly to be transferred from one cell to another without spilling any water during the ma nipulation.

As the quantity of liquid drawn into the venting tube is comparatively small, it may, if desired, be ex )elled into the filled cell at the conclusion 0 the filling operation, thus avoiding possible transfer of electrolyte from one cell to another. With this latter method of manipulation, it is necessary to close the water tube 21, as by inching it with the fingers, to prevent furtlier flow of water through the tube until the nozzle member is introduced into the next cell requiring water. The flow of water will then start as soon as the pinch on the water tube is released.

By means of the liquid dispensing device of this invention, any number of successive battery cells can be expeditiously filled with water without moving the rcserwiir, and the proper water level be automatically established at the end of each filling operation, so that it is unnecessary for the attendant to intermittently remove the nozzle member to inspect the interior of the cell. While the device of the present invention is useful to the individual batter owner, it is of great convenience and utility to battery service stations where large numbers of batteries require attention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filling device, the combination of an elevated reservoir, a pair of flexible tubes extending from said reservoir and forming a water conduit and a venting conduit respectively, a nozzle member including a pair of nozzles receiving said respective conduits and adapted for introduction into a battery cell to permit the flow of water therein and to seal'the venting nozzle after the water in the cell has risen a pre-determined amount, and means in said venting conduit for expelling water accumulating in said conduit at the conclusion of the filling operation.

2. In a filling device, the combination of an elevated reservoir, :1 pair of flexible tubes extending from said reservoir and forming a water conduit and a venting conduit respectively, a nozzle member including a air of nozzles receiving said respective con uits and adapted for introduction into a battery cell to permit the flow of water therein and to seal the venting nozzle after the water in the cell has risen a pre-determined amount, and an elastic bulb communicating with said venting conduit and being compressible for expelling water accumulating in said conduit at the conclusion of the filling operation.

3. In a filling device, the combination of an elevated reservoir, a pair of flexible tubes extending from said reservoir and forming a water conduit and a venting conduit re- Cir spectively, a nozzle member includin a pair of nozzles receiving said conduits an adapted for introduction into a battery cell to permit the flow of water therein and to seal the venting nozzle after the Water in the cell a has risen a predetermined amount, a rubber bulb forming an enlargement of said venting conduit and being compressible for expelling Water accumulating in said conduit at the conclusion of the filling operation, and a check valve at the upper end of said bulb for insuring the expulsion of wa ter from the venting nozzle.

4. In a filling device, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a discharge conduit and a venting conduit connected to said reservoir and mounted together for simultaneous introduction into a container to permit the flow of liquid into said container until the rising liquid therein seals said venting conduit, and means for expelling liquid from the liquid-sealed venting conduit to re-establish the flow of liquid from said discharge conduit.

5. In a filling device, the combination of a liquid reservoir, a discharge conduit and a venting conduit connected to said reservoir for introduction into a container to permit the flow of liquid into said container until the rising liquid therein seals said venting conduit, and manually-operable fluiddisplacing means communicating with said venting conduit for expelling liquid from the liquid-sealed venting conduit to re-establish the flow of liquid from said dis charge conduit.

6. In a filling device, the combination of aninvertible liquid-receiving container having a normally subjacent threaded neck presenting an opening therethrough, a cap threaded onto said neck to close said opening and having a pair of conduits therein one of which opens into the liquid-receiving space at said neck, an upright venting tube secured to said cap in communication With the other conduit and extending upwardly into said container, and a pair of tubes ex ternal of said container connected to said respective conduits in said cap.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

LUCIAN A. PRAY. 

